Handbooks of Research on Public Policy series

The International Handbook on Ageing and Public Policy explores the challenges arising from the ageing of populations across the globe for government, policy makers, the private sector and civil society. It examines various national state approaches to welfare provisions for older people, and highlights alternatives based around the voluntary and third-party sector, families and private initiatives. The Handbook is highly relevant for academics interested in this critical issue, and offers important messages for policy makers and practitioners.

Chapter 2: Introduction to Parts I–IV: perspectives on the challenges of population ageing

Handbook Chapter

Extract

There are good reasons for regarding the emergence of societies that have to grapple with the challenges of demographic maturity as evidence of successful social development. These societies are the beneficiaries, both of a remarkable transition in human longevity, and also of a decline in fertility rates to levels low enough to put a brake on population growth. It is important to keep this perspective in mind as we try to articulate and assess the policy challenges associated with population ageing. It defines a point of view from which such challenges are seen as adaptations to demographic changes that are basically benign, and this is the perspective adopted, either explicitly or implicitly, by most of the contributions in Part I of this Handbook. The rationale for describing the demographic changes as benign is straightforward. Provided that the appropriate adaptations or adjustments are made, then we are better off with increased longevity and lower fertility; failure to adjust compromises our ability to transform these changes into net gains in well-being. Looked at from this point of view, there is a common goal behind all the various policy challenges associated with this new ‘demographic regime’, which is to identify and implement the adjustments required in systems, policies and behaviours that presuppose an outmoded set of demographic conditions.

You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.

Elgaronline requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books or journals. Please login through your library system or with your personal username and password on the homepage.